Fansided

Report: Phil Jackson will not take over Toronto Raptors

By Joshua Santos

Apr 2, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Phil Jackson looks on as the jersey of Los Angeles Lakers former player Shaquille O
Apr 2, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Phil Jackson looks on as the jersey of Los Angeles Lakers former player Shaquille O /
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Apr 2, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Phil Jackson (left) and Jeannie Buss stand with Los Angeles Lakers former player Shaquille O’Neal as his jersey is retired during a half time ceremony during the game against the Dallas Mavericks at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 2, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Phil Jackson (left) and Jeannie Buss stand with Los Angeles Lakers former player Shaquille O’Neal as his jersey is retired during a half time ceremony during the game against the Dallas Mavericks at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

The news was too good to be true. Phil Jackson, who was reportedly interested in taking over the Toronto Raptors, will not travel to the north and take the Raptors’ team president job.

According to Sportsnet.ca, the chances of Phil Jackson taking over as president of basketball operations for the Raptors is in fact “remote”.

"On the other, sources close to the MLSE familiar with Tim Leiweke’s thinking say he’s also tapping into his NBA contacts to determine if there might be a preferred choice to give the franchise over to for a complete makeover.One name that can be crossed off any lists, sources say, is Phil Jackson. The 11-time NBA champion head coach won six titles working with Leiweke in Los Angeles and the two are friends, but the likelihood of Jackson relocating to Toronto and taking on a full-time role as a club executive are considered remote at this point."

When Tim Leiweke took over as CEO of MLSE, many reports indicated Leiweke, who was the head of AEG, the company that runs Staples Center, would consider Jackson as a candidate for the team’s president since both have a good relationship. Leiweke ran AEG during Jackson’s tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers and knew Jackson had a desire to have a team president role.

Jackson also wanted to see how the situation in Seattle unfolds first, before making any decisions.

Would the Raptors be an ideal situation for the 11-time champion coach? Not likely. The Raptors are a mess, need a new direction and sense of focus. As well, the team he team is struggling with a cap-loaded roster. Not to mention they don’t have any elite players.

Right now, the team needs to making a decision on Bryan Colangelo‘s pending contract. While it was expected that the Raptors would sign his extension option, it appears the board and Leiweke are taking their time to decide his fate.

The Raptors need a new start and it won’t be Jackson. Colangelo had eight years to construct this team and while he failed to make the post-season for five-consecutive years, he may not be the guy for the job. Needless to say, he’ll probably stick around for another year.

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